Michael Silverblatt, host of KCRW’s Bookworm, talks to the Los Angeles City Beat about L.A. literary culture, his reading habits, and the idea that arguing is impolite (“3rd Degree: Michael Silverblatt,” by Rebecca Epstein):

You are known for being able to impress your guests with your critical acumen. Have you ever been stumped or totally taken off balance by one of them in return?

Somehow or other the idea that argument is impolite has come up. It’s sort of like, why fight with people whose opinion you already know? But America, to be lofty, was once a place where everything was discussed – politically correct or not – and we talked with enormous belief that the conversation could change the listener. But if we’re not used to starting with incomprehension, then passion as informed talk doesn’t take hold. People aren’t swayed.

Norman Mailer had done me the great favor of calling me the best reader in America. It was amazing. Also, his publisher had told me that Norman had given explicit instructions not to schedule two things on the same day that he would talk to me, because he really enjoyed talking to me, but it wore him out. This was because I’m not afraid anymore, and we would argue.

Lynn: Renowned author Paul Fleischman is a man on a mission. He wants teens to look beyond their own “internal movie,” beyond the dazzling technological changes in our world to the side effects and huge environmental problems we face. Using in-your-face, blunt language in Eyes Wide Open: Going Beyond the Environmental Headlines (2014), Fleischman sets about […]

Lynn: As an educator, a parent, and a grandparent, one of my goals has been to fan the flames of curiosity in kids. It’s a critical trait and one that often seems to get squashed somewhere along the K-12 march. I love books that encourage kids to ask questions. Marc Aronson’s books always seem to […]

Lynn and Cindy: While shapes are a common subject for picture books, it is still a pleasure to find new ones that are both fun and instructive for young readers. If it were left to us, we’d throw out all the boring textbooks for the primary grades and stock them with fabulous picture books. See—educational reform […]

Lynn: Renowned author Paul Fleischman is a man on a mission. He wants teens to look beyond their own “internal movie,” beyond the dazzling technological changes in our world to the side effects and huge environmental problems we face. Using in-your-face, blunt language in Eyes Wide Open: Going Beyond the Environmental Headlines (2014), Fleischman sets about […]

Lynn: As an educator, a parent, and a grandparent, one of my goals has been to fan the flames of curiosity in kids. It’s a critical trait and one that often seems to get squashed somewhere along the K-12 march. I love books that encourage kids to ask questions. Marc Aronson’s books always seem to […]

Lynn and Cindy: While shapes are a common subject for picture books, it is still a pleasure to find new ones that are both fun and instructive for young readers. If it were left to us, we’d throw out all the boring textbooks for the primary grades and stock them with fabulous picture books. See—educational reform […]